Congestion fears as roadworks and delays on Millhouse roundabout loom

Sophie Wills

Concerns over congestion that will leave Worksop “isolated and gridlocked” have been raised as work on a £24m road improvement scheme begins next Monday.

Taking place over 32 weeks, the project see the installation of traffic signals on the Millhouse roundabout- which links the A57, A60, B6024 Newcastle Avenue and St Annes Drive, between the M1 motorway and the A1.

Residents in the area have received letters from Nottinghamshire County Council notifying them about the upcoming works.

The latest letter, sent at the beginning of February, informed residents that the first phase of the scheme will entail cutting back overgrown vegetation within the central island of the roundabout.

The letter warned of “temporary traffic signals and road closures” over the next five months and warned residents to “take particular care” while the roadworks were in place.

Alec Thorpe, who lives in Worksop, said he feared the the roadworks would leave Worksop town centre “isolated and grid-locked.”

He added: “At best it will only improve journey times for traffic travelling along the bypass. Far from improving access, it will become even more difficult to gain access to the town centre.”

But council chiefs said the improvements would not only “make journey times better for commuters”, but will also help “unlock 75 hectares of land” which could be used to boost employment in the town.

Councillor Kevin Greaves, chairman of the Nottinghamshire council’s transport and highways committee, said: “The increase in available employment land has the potential to host up to 4,900 jobs in the town and generate around 1,100 more with the associated increase in etail footfall.

“It is expected that this will also help accelerate housing growth, creating up to 1,600 homes.”

Motorists should be aware that temporary 30mph speed restrictioms will be imposed at certain locations while the project takes place from Monday, February 15 to Monday, July 25.

The restrictions will be installed on the A57 bypass, as well as on A60 Mansfield Road, from its junction with A57/A60/B6024/St Annes Drive roundabout for a distance of 240 metres in a westerly direction

They will also be imposed on B6024 Newcastle Avenue, from its junction with A57/A60/B6024/St Annes Drive Roundabout for a distance of 100 metres in an easterly direction.